THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION: ABSOLUTELY FREE

The early Zappa albums need a certain state of mind, the kind of mind that already starts laughing right from the "Hello Amaricas" introduction of Plastic People. Yes, the satiric element is an aspect that can not be ignored if you want to judge this album correctly. Unfortunately that very thing happens to be my main struggle, I don't care for lyrics at all, and also on this words-pregnant album, they pass me by entirely.

The music has taken a real leap forward since Freak Out though, but there's just too little of it. Gone are most of the pop pastiche and psychedelic elements. Instead the avant-garde takes over and we get a type of music that sometimes comes close to Captain Beefheart's early albums, with seemingly chaotic rhythms, snappy disjointed guitar riffs and an eclectic mix of rough blues, jazz, musical, classical, R&B and psychedelic influences.

When the music takes over as on Invocation / Ritual Dance the band really show their potential and dive into a ground-breaking jam that must have been a real mind-expanding experience in 1967. Best of all, it still sounds fresh and involved a good 40 years later. Unfortunately those moments are far and few between, and the predominant vocals and the continuous genre pastiche gets really irritating if you just try to appreciate this for the music.

An album for the real Zappa fans, especially if you don't care being hammered down with vocals and goofy humour. Just judging from the music I can't rate this higher then 2.5 stars. Promising but no match for what was to come.